BAKU: ‘We Will Continue To Isolate Armenia From International And Re

‘WE WILL CONTINUE TO ISOLATE ARMENIA FROM INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL PROJECTS’

News.Az
Tue 11 September 2012 10:55 GMT | 11:55 Local Time

The cause of Armenia’s grave economic situation is Azerbaijan.

The statement came from President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev,
APA reports.

“The main problem for Azerbaijan is the occupation of our lands by
Armenia. Our lands are under occupation as a result of the aggression,
aggressive policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan.”

The president noted that this issue cannot find its solution because
of the support of patrons of Armenians in the world to them. “It’s
despite the fact that there are all opportunities and legal framework
for the solution of the issue. International organizations have adopted
decisions and resolutions. Leaders of the leading countries of the
world have made statements that this current situation is unacceptable
and the status quo must be changed. Unfortunately, Armenia remains
indifferent to these calls, and international community does not
exert the due pressure and effect on it. This is the cause for the
insolvability of the issue.We will continue to strengthen our country
and our international positions. Legal grounds for the solution are
sufficiently enough, and these grounds defend and support Azerbaijan’s
position. The UN, its Security Council, OSCE, the Council of Europe,
European Parliament and other international organizations have adopted
decisions which are the only path for the settlement of the conflict.”

The head of state stressed that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
is recognized by all countries, and this issue can find its solution
only within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

“There is no change in Azerbaijan’s position regarding this settlement
of this issue. We will not back off the path that we have taken.

Nagorno-Karabakh is an eternal and historical land of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan must restore its territorial integrity. Occupiers must be
and will be withdrawn from all the occupied lands. Azerbaijani citizens
must and will return to their homelands. Our compatriots will return
to the regions which are currently beyond administrative borders of
former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Province, and Nagorno-Karabakh,
Khankandi and Shusha. I am convinced and believe in this, and there
are enough factors to consolidate my conviction: International law,
economic power of Azerbaijan, our military potential and increasing
weigh of Azerbaijan in political arena. Only looking at the history
of the last one year, we can see the successes of Azerbaijan.

We are a member of the respected international organization – the UN
Security Council. We chaired this organization a couple of months ago.

We entered this organization with the support of 155 countries.

Recently, 120 member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement supported
a resolution considering the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. 120 countries
is the majority of the world. We in many cases hear the notion of
international arena, and some organizations, some structures mean
themselves when they say international arena. International arena is
not an object that unites 20 or 30 countries. International arena
is the UN, and 155 countries in the UN supported us. International
arena is the Non-Aligned Movement.

There operate 120 countries. They too supported us. That is, the
international arena supports our position and of course, it gives
us additional opportunities and increases our confidence. But at the
same time, the Minsk Group has been created for 20 years to solve this
issue, but it cannot. It cannot exert the due pressure on Armenia. We
see that this issue can and must be solved at the expense of the power
of Azerbaijan. Therefore, we must be more powerful. We must further
strengthen our army and we do. At present the Azerbaijani Army is
among mighty armies not on a regional, but on a global scale. We are
advancing our country by strengthening our economic potential.

It enables us to conduct an independent policy on this issue. We make
decisions based on national interests in foreign and domestic policy.

Strong Azerbaijan is a strong regional factor, and a stabilizing
factor. At the same time, it’s already not possible not to account
with Azerbaijan in regional issues. Attempts not to account with
Azerbaijan brought no result and the recent history shows that.

Therefore, the stronger we are, the sooner Azerbaijan will restore
its territorial integrity.

We have an unambiguous position regarding the solution of the issue. I
have repeatedly stated my opinions on this. The aggressive forces
must be removed from all the occupied lands, and after that peace and
cooperation can emerge in the region and the source of danger can be
removed. So far, our lands are under occupation. Our number one target
is Armenia. We will continue to isolate Armenia from all international
and regional projects. This policy is bearing fruits and the cause
for Armenia’s difficult economic situation is Azerbaijan. This is
unambiguous. According to their own statistics, 80,000 people have
fled Armenia in the first half of the year. By the end of the year,
this figure will probably double. The Azerbaijan’s population is
increasing and after 5-10 years, in general, the correlation of
percents will be one to ten, maybe even less. These factors should
make them think. Their grave economic situation, demographic situation
and isolation from international issues must make them worry.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan is stepping forward. Despite the occupation of
our lands, we make great achievements and we increase them. A couple
of days ago, respected international economic structure – The Davos
Economic Forum placed Azerbaijan 42nd for economic competitiveness,
the first place in the CIS space. Our affair is the affair of justice.

We want the restoration of justice and we will achieve it. For us,
the number one issue in our foreign policy, on our agenda in general,
is liberation of the occupied lands. We are working day and night,
and we will continue this activity.”